The Gospel according to Matthew:Five Major Discourses of Jesusby Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

The Structure of Matthew's Gospel:

Most biblical scholars today believe that Mark is the oldest surviving Gospel, and that the author of Matthew used Mark's text as one of his written sources (see the Synoptic Problem). Moreover, if one compares Matthew with Mark, one easily notices that most of the material that Matthew added (i.e., stories and sayings not found in Mark) is contained in five major sermons or discourses. This structure was not invented by modern scholars, but is indicated by the Evangelist himself, who at the end of each of these five discourses writes, "When Jesus had finished saying these things..." (or something very similar; see 7:28, 11:1, 13:53, 19:1, and 26:1).

Introduction: Infancy Narrative: Chapters 1–2

Narrative: 3–4

First Discourse: "Sermon on the Mount": 5–7

Narrative: 8–9

Second Discourse: "Missionary Instructions": 10

Narrative: 11–12

Third Discourse: "Collection of Parables": 13

Narrative: 14–17

Fourth Discourse: "Community Instructions": 18

Narrative: 19–22

Fifth Discourse: "Sermon on Eschatology": 23–25

Conclusion: Passion & Resurrection Narrative: 26–28

The following tables compare the content of these five Matthean Discourses with similar material in Mark and/or Luke.(click here for an explanation of the Highlighting Colors used below).

I) Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5–7)

Pericope

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Introduction to the Sermon

5:1-2

--

6:17-20

The Beatitudes

5:3-12

--

6:21-23

Salt of the Earth

5:13

9:50

14:34-35

Light of the World

5:14-16

4:21

8:16

The Law and the Prophets

5:17-20

--

16:16-17

1-On Murder and Wrath

5:21-26

--

12:57-59

2-On Adultery

5:27-30

9:43, 47-48

--

3-On Divorce (dup. Mt 19:9)

5:31-32

10:11-12

16:18

4-On Oaths

5:33-37

--

--

5-On Retaliation

5:38-42

--

6:29-30

6-On Love of One's Enemies

5:43-48

--

6:27-28, 32-36

On Almsgiving

6:1-4

--

--

On Prayer

6:5-6

--

--

The Lord's Prayer

6:7-15

[cf. 11:25]

11:1-4

On Fasting

6:16-18

--

--

Treasures on Earth / in Heaven

6:19-21

--

12:33-34

The Eye as Lamp of the Body

6:22-23

--

11:34-36

Not Serving Two Masters

6:24

--

16:13

Not Worrying (Birds / Lilies)

6:25-34

--

12:22-32

Not Judging

7:1-2

[4:24]

6:37-38

Parable of Speck & Plank

7:3-5

--

6:37-42

Not Profaning the Holy

7:6

--

--

God Answers Prayers

7:7-11

--

11:9-13

The Golden Rule

7:12

--

6:31

Two Roads & Two Gates

7:13-14

--

13:23-24

Trees with Good or Bad Fruit

7:15-20

--

6:43-45

Not just saying "Lord, Lord"

7:21-23

--

6:46

Parable of Two Houses

7:24-27

--

6:47-49

Conclusion: Effect of the Sermon

7:28-29

1:21-22

--

Note: Some of this material comes from Mark (but expanded in Matthew), some from Matthew's own source(s), but most of it from the "Q" source.

II) Missionary Instructions (Matt 10)

Pericope

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Choosing & Empowering the Twelve

10:1

3:13-15 & 6:7

6:12-13 & 9:1

Names of the Twelve Apostles

10:2-4

3:16-19a

6:14-16

Mission of the Twelve

10:5-16

6:8-11

9:2-5; cf. 10:3-12

Persecutions of the Disciples

10:17-25

[cf. 13:9-13]

12:11-12; 6:40

Have No Fear

10:26-33

[cf. 4:22; 8:38]

12:2-9

Division within Households

10:34-36

--

12:51-53

Costs of Discipleship

10:37-39

--

14:25-27; 17:33

Rewards for Hospitality

10:40-42

9:41

10:16

Conclusion of the 2nd Discourse

11:1

--

--

Note: Some of this material comes from Mark (again expanded in Matthew), but most of it from the "Q" source.

III) Collection of Parables (Matt 13)

Pericope

Matthew

Mark

Luke

The Parable of the Sower

13:1-9

4:1-9

8:4-8

The Reason for Speaking in Parables

13:10-17

4:10-12

8:9-10

Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower

13:18-23

4:13-20

8:11-15

The Parable of the Tares/Weeds

13:24-30

[sub 4:26-29]

--

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

13:31-32

4:30-32

13:18-19

The Parable of the Leaven

13:33

--

13:20-21

Jesus' Use of Parables

13:34-35

4:33-34

--

Interpretation of the Parable of the Tares/Weeds

13:36-43

--

--

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and of the Pearl

13:44-46

--

--

The Parable of the Net

13:47-50

--

--

Treasures New and Old

13:51-52

--

--

Conclusion of the 3rd Discourse

13:53

--

--

Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth

13:54-58

6:1-6a

4:16-30

Note: The first half of this chapter comes mostly from Mark, while the second half is mostly from Matthew's own source(s).

IV) Community Instructions (Matt 18)

Pericope

Matthew

Mark

Luke

True Greatness

18:1-5

9:33-37

9:49-50

Warnings concerning Temptations

18:6-9

9:42-50

17:1-2

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

18:10-14

--

15:3-7

On Reproving One's Brother

18:15-18

--

17:3

"Where Two or Three are Gathered Together"

18:19-20

--

--

On Reconciliation

18:21-22

--

17:4

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

18:23-35

--

--

Conclusion of the 4th Discourse

19:1-2

10:1

--

Note: This chapter begins with Markan material, but most of the material comes from the Q-source or from Matthew's own source(s).

V) Sermon on Eschatology (Matt 23–25)

Pericope

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

23:1-36

12:37b-40

20:45-47

Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem

23:37-39

--

13:34-35

Prediction of the Destruction of the Temple

24:1-2

13:1-2

21:5-6

Signs before the End

24:3-8

13:3-8

21:7-11

Persecutions Foretold

24:9-14

13:9-13

21:12-19

The Desolating Sacrilege

24:15-22

13:14-20

21:20-24

False Christs and False Prophets

24:23-28

13:21-23

17:23-24

The Coming of the Son of Man

24:29-31

13:24-27

21:25-28

The Time of the Coming: the Parable of the Fig Tree

24:32-36

13:28-32

21:29-33

The Parable of the Flood and Exhortation to Watchfulness

24:37-44

13:35

17:26-36

The Parable of the Good Servant and the Wicked Servant

24:45-51

--

12:41-46

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25:1-13

--

--

The Parable of the Talents

25:14-30

--

19:11-27

The Last Judgment (The Sheep and the Goats)

25:31-46

--

--

Conclusion of the 5th Discourse

26:1

--

--

Note: Matthew 24 is very similar to Mark 13, but most of Matt 23 and 25 comes from the Q-source and from Matthew's own source(s).